New Delhi:  Minority works ministry of the BJP-led central government is expanding the reach of a scheme to improve socio-economic infrastructure for minorities in education, health and skill development from 196 to 308 districts of the country. From 27 states and UTs, the programme, which was last year allocated Rs 3,972 crore to be spent over three years, will now be implemented in districts across 32 states and UTs.

“Between 33% and 40% of resources under the PMJVK (PradhanMantri Jan VikasKaryakram) would be specifically allocated for women-centric projects,” said the ministry of minority affairs, adding, “It is an attempt to reduce the gap between the national average and minority communities on backwardness parameters”. Put together, the additions represent a 57% increase in the coverage area.

The states with the highest number of districts which will benefit from the PMJVK are Uttar Pradesh (43), Maharashtra (27), Karnataka, Bengal and Rajasthan (16 each), Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala (13 each), Tamil Nadu (12), Madhya Pradesh (8), Haryana and Manipur (7 each) and Punjab (2). 

The Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP), which was launched in 2008, has now been restructured as the PMJVK and will now cover five more states and UTs: Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland, Goa and Puducherry. Besides, 61 “aspirational districts”— the most backward ones which have concentrations of minorities — have also been brought under its purview.

While expanding the scheme, the government “rationalised” the criteria for identification of minority concentration towns (MCTs) and village clusters. The government has decided to lower the population percentage criteria for the communities and fulfilment of backwardness parameters. In its statement, the ministry stated that 80% of the resources under the PMJVK would be earmarked for projects related to education, health and skill development.